Children's Books for 1st Graders

The fish are gone, the market is empty, and Tano is only eleven when his digging stick strikes something buried in the sand: an old drum with a strange rule carved into its base. Three beats to ask, one to say thank you, and only one wish a day. But what happens when a bigger boy grabs the drum and refuses to follow the rules? Can Tano set things right before the magic turns sour? This Bookbot level practises the ‘wh’ sound in words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘whir’, and ‘whole’.

Sara loves to float in her cool, clear stream, dreaming of faraway seas. But what happens when a tiny, bossy fish bursts out of the weeds and begs her to follow? Where will the current carry her - and whose sparkling kingdom waits in the deepest, darkest part of the ocean? Could a girl from a little creek really become queen of the whole sea? This decodable reader practises the wh phonogram through words like ‘whales,’ ‘what,’ ‘whirl,’ ‘whose,’ and ‘whole.’

Zom has grown the biggest, best bunch of pumpkins ever, and he can’t wait to bake them into wonderful cakes. But one morning, a pumpkin is gone! The next day, two more vanish without a trace. Who - or what - is sneaking into the patch at night? Can Zom stay awake long enough to catch the mystery thief in the act? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words such as ‘bunch,’ ‘catch,’ ‘chin,’ and ‘witch.’

Pam is SURE she is a tree, and trees don’t take naps - not ever! Can a girl with leafy green hair really outrun bedtime? Watch Pam zoom past the elm, boss a whole row of trees, and hide in a bush so sneaky even the birds get a fright. But what happens when the path twists and Pam can’t find her way home? This decodable reader practises VCC/CVCC words such as ‘fast,’ ‘held,’ ‘past,’ ‘rest,’ and ‘went.’

Dad pedals off to work, and tonight feels a MILLION hours away - so how will one determined girl catch up? Hop on a wobbly scooter, zoom past a shiny car, rumble in a big green bus, lurch across a field in a digger, and SPLASH through the waves on a speedboat. Each ride is faster than the last, but can she really chase Dad all the way across the ocean? This decodable reader practises the ’th’ sound in words like ’that,’ ’the,’ ’there,’ and ’thinks.'

Kojo has a reading test coming up, and his chest feels full of worry - until something magical happens. The moment he sounds out a word, it leaps right off the page! A chap with a cup, a hen with cheek, a cat dashing to lunch, and a monkey on a branch all spring to life. What other surprises will Kojo spy when he keeps on reading? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chin,’ ‘chest,’ ‘branch,’ ’lunch,’ and ‘march.’

Have you ever looked up at the clouds and spotted something that looked just like a person waving back? When Chip points at the sky, a puffy cloud man appears - then cloud chums jigging, singing, and banging drums in a huge sky band! But what happens when the music turns into thunder and rain smacks everyone on the cheek? This decodable reader practises the ‘ch’ sound in words like ‘chip,’ ‘chums,’ ‘catch,’ ‘bunch,’ and ‘watch.’

Long ago, the Sun and the Moon both blazed in the daytime sky, so bright that no one on earth could ever close their eyes and rest. But when the tired world begged for darkness, could the gentle Moon find a way to share the sky with her proud, burning brother? And what would it cost her to give the world its very first peaceful night? This Bookbot level practises the ‘wh’ sound with words like ‘when’, ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘while’, and ‘whole’.

Deep in a glittering cave full of pink crystals, Jill is hunting for gems with her trusty pickaxe and shiny armour. But what happens when the ground gives way and zombies come rushing from the shadows? Can one brave miner fight her way back to the surface - and will she remember why she came down here in the first place? This decodable reader practises the sh sound in words like ‘crash,’ ‘rush,’ ‘fresh,’ and ‘shine.’

Anansi has cooked a feast fit for a king, and he means to eat every last bite alone. But when weary Turtle knocks at his door, will a few sneaky tricks keep those pots all to himself? And what happens when Turtle sends back an invitation of his own? This clever twist on a favourite folktale practises the ’nk’ sound with lesson words like ‘bank’, ’think’, ‘sink’, ‘chunk’, and ‘winks’.